Warner: The Scapegoat for Outing Team?

HIGHLIGHTS

Even as the Australians are using the Indian Premier League as a distraction from their ball tampering saga as well as a way to rebuild their ICC Cricket World Cup form and plans, the doubts and suspicions about the Australian cricket team continue to do the rounds.

It appeared that Australia’s recent success against India in the one day internationals had helped assuage some of the concerns Australia had going into the ICC Cricket World Cup about their batting order and form. However, even as Australia’s cricketers are using the IPL as a platform to put Australia’s troubles behind them, it appears that they cannot quite shake off the ghost of ball tampering quite yet.

For the past year, the ball tampering that damaged Australia’s reputation in the course of the Newlands Test has refused to leave the headlines. Even as Australia have tried desperately to focus on the redemption part of the return of Steven Smith and David Warner, not in Australian colours, but rather conveniently in IPL shades, the focus of the fallout of the ball tampering refuses to leave Australian cricket circles.

Furthermore, even as former Australian greats themselves are voicing serious concerns about the depth of the malice and whether enough has been done to go deep not only to unearth the truth but also, to find appropriate remedial measures, the story that once did the rounds when the story first broke out continues to gather storm. And not surprisingly it revolves around David Warner.

Although deliberate attempt is being made to shift focus by dubbing Warner’s enterprising IPL 2019 debut match innings, it has not really allowed people to shift the focus of the conspiracy theory that Warner, whose career was stated as being practically over, was blamed as the mastermind of the fiasco was in fact just a scapegoat to cover a deeper problem, one that penetrated more than just the ‘leadership group’ as stated by Smith in the press conference following the breaking out of the story last March in Cape Town.

Warner, who had been the perennial bad boy of cricket, was attributed even by his own team mate and fellow perpetrator, Cameron Bancroft, as being the one to hatch the idea in the first place of using sandpaper to manipulate the surface of the ball in a desperate attempt to change the course of the match. However, while it seemed fishy to many that the Australian team that did not want to have anything to do with Warner last year was willing to welcome him back into the fold right before the ICC Cricket World Cup, it has allowed for the emergency for the alleged back story that Warner was made to look back not only because of the escalating level of personal transgressions that involved Quinton de Kock but also, and perhaps more importantly, because Warner had apparently reported that the entire Australian team was in on the act, which did not amuse the rest of the team.

At the time of the ball tampering incident, Smith had suggested there was a group behind the decision and that he was merely a passerby who did nothing, which is quite serious in itself given that he was the captain and a batsman of fair repute at the time, and many conjectured that the bowlers could not have possibly been ignorant that the nature of the ball was being deliberately manipulated. It raised furious reactions back and forth and it seemed that Australia had more to cover up when Darren Lehmann, the coach at the time, refused to resign under pressure but eventually stepped down at the end of the Test tour. If Smith must be believed, then Warner alone is not culpable. That said, if Cameron was being a spokesperson for the rest of the team by throwing Warner under the bus for spilling the beans, it explains a lot. As conspiracies abound, this one would take the cake for the lack of clarity.

In what seems like unfinished business, perhaps it is for these cricketers to then convert their back stories into juicy bestsellers when a financially lucrative proposition presents itself though it leaves cricket none the richer now or in the future.

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Feature Cricket

Need for wider use of technology to spot no balls

HIGHLIGHT

Sundaram Ravi will just have to live with it. There are umpiring errors and umpiring errors and while some of them are either minor or do not have a major impact on the result of the match his overlooking of the no ball sent down by Lasith Malinga in the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians on Thursday has predictably – and rightly - caused an uproar.

It was the last ball of the match and a right call from Ravi would have given RCB an opportunity to win. The wrong call meant that MI won by six runs. Unfortunately for Ravi it also turned out to be a high profile game and as Virat Kohli fumed ``We are playing at the IPL level and not playing club cricket. That’s a ridiculous call off the last ball.’’ Yes, and in a game of small margins umpiring blunders can be decisive.

Ironically Ravi is the only Indian representative in ICC’s elite panel and is regarded as one of the better Indian umpires. However neither he nor the other umpire C Nandan who unfairly signaled a wide in the previous (19th) over have been adversely reported by the match referee Manu Nayyar. Also Ravi is unlikely to be sanctioned due to lack of officials with international experience on the BCCI roster.

There have been a fall in umpiring standards of late in domestic cricket – particularly in the Ranji Trophy – and experts have put this down to a lack of professionalism on the part of the BCCI. It’s been two years since the umpires subcommittee has functioned. In the past a process was followed wherein the umpires were assessed during the year by a panel of former officials.

The umpiring howler has led to calls for greater use of technology. Many former cricketers are of the view that there should be a separate technology to spot no balls while others have said that the third umpire can check for no balls for every delivery. Either way a solution has to be found to this problem which is causing growing annoyance.

Two other separate points too need to be discussed. One, what was Malinga doing bowling a no ball at that critical juncture? A bowler of his skill and experience sending down a no ball off the last delivery of a T-20 match is absolutely unacceptable. Secondly a close look at the photograph of Malinga about to send down that delivery has the tell-tale image of the non-striker (AB de Villiers) still in the crease. Obviously Ravi Ashwin’s run out of Jos Buttler has had the desired impact.

HIGHLIGHT

David Warner's international ban has come to an end. He is now available for selection at the highest level. Warner had got banned for one year post his involvement in ball-tampering scandal. Former England captain, Mike Atherton has praised David Warner's conduct during and after the whole fiasco that shocked the cricketing community.

“He has stayed out of view. He has refused all of the presumably many juicy offers to reveal his side of the story and maintained a telling silence,” Atherton wrote in an article for The Australian.

“Warner has simply kept his head down, his mouth shut and accepted the punishment.

“The list of those who have left their jobs in Australia in the past year is a long one: gone are the chief executive James Sutherland, chairman David Peever, high-performance manager Pat Howard, head coach Darren Lehmann and bowling coach David Saker.

“Having wisely kept his counsel, Warner will outlast them all.”

David Warner has made a scintillating return to IPL. He has made half-centuries in first two games for Hyderabad and is looking in red-hot form.

News Cricket

After Lungi Ngidi, another star CSK player ruled out of IPL 2019

HIGHLIGHT

David Willey will take no further part in the ongoing Indian Premier League because of personal reasons. Willey, who played three matches for CSK in 2018, was looking forward to play for his IPL franchise.

"We are due for our second baby and my wife's had a bit of a tough time, so I'm having to make sure she's alright," he said.

"It's a bit open-ended as to when I'll be available for Yorkshire, but hopefully I'll be available for the start of the 50-over competition," Willey added.

He stated that it was not an easy decision to take.

"Chennai were very understanding and very supportive, as have been Yorkshire. It's never an easy decision. But, nonetheless, it's the right decision," the 29-year old said.

"I need to put my family first and cricket's secondary to that. We'll get that sorted and then I can concentrate on cricket."

News Cricket

My 100 was not enough because of the way you batted, Sanju Samson to David Warner

HIGHLIGHT

Sanju Samson’s magnificent ton went in vain as David Warner's blistering knock took Sunrisers Hyderabad to win in their match against visiting Rajasthan Royals. Samson scored 102 not-out, his second-hundred of the Indian Premier League career but Warner's 69 off 37 proved to be the difference in the end as home team won the game by five wickets.

After the match, Warner interviewed Samson. “You destroyed my day. My 100 was not enough because of the way you batted. The way you started the innings we lost the game in the powerplay. We needed some 250 on the board with someone like you in the opposition. It was special,” Samson told Warner.

David Warner praised Samson for his exceptional batting. “We didn’t get off to a good start, a serious innings from Sanju and full credit to him. He came out and played really well. He allowed himself time and the wicket got better. Actually, I didn’t think it was a 200 wicket. We have played on similar wickets where if you bowl that hard length it is tough to get under. He showed us how to go about it,” said Warner.

News Cricket

Not Dhoni or Pant, Gambhir reveals the name of best wicketkeeper batsman in India

HIGHLIGHT

Sanju Samson played one of the finest innings of Indian Premier League at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad. Despite losing Jos Buttler, Rahane and Samson combined together to lead Rajasthan Royals to a competitive total. While Rahane scored 70, it was Samson, who earned a lot of praise for his chance less knock. He second century of the Indian Premier League came off only 52 deliveries. Gautam Gambhir was mighty impressed with Samson and heaped praise on the young batsman.

"I normally don’t like to talk about individuals in cricket. But seeing his skills I am glad to note that Sanju Samson is currently the best Wicketkeeper batsman in India. For me he should be batting number 4 in the World Cup @BCCI @rajasthanroyals @IPL @StarSportsIndia," he wrote on his Twitter handle.

Men in Blue have tried different players at the No. 4 spot but they haven't been able to finalize one till date. With Gambhir backing Rajasthan Royals' batsman Sanju Samson, it will be interesting to see whether wise men of Indian selection committee would consider him while naming World Cup squad.

HIGHLIGHT

Sanju Samson scored an impressive hundred, becoming the first player to reach three-figure mark in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. While he was batting on 44, he had to stop his innings, courtsey pizza delivery guy. Actually, a pizza delivery guy was walking in front of the sight screen when Samson was about to face a ball. The match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan was stopped for a moment to allow the delivery guy to get out of the way. Samson resumed his innings after that and went on to score second century of his IPL career.

Sanju Samson remained unbeaten on 102 with the help of 10 fours and 4 sixes. However, his knock went in vain as David Warner (69 off 37 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (45 off 28 balls) stitched a 110-run stand for opening wicket to lead Sunrisers' charge. Vijay Shankar’s 35 runs off just 15 balls and Rashid Khan's 15 off 8 helped their team in registering first win of the season.

News Cricket

Crease or road, you will regret, if you cross the line: Cops use 'Mankad' meme for awareness

HIGHLIGHT

R Ashwin had to face flak for mankading Jos Buttler during one of the IPL matches. However, the skipper of Kings XI Punjab was unfazed by the criticism coming his way after his controversial decision to run-out Buttler. The incident has inspired Kolkata Police, who have used Ashwin's picture on Twitter to create awareness among residents of the city. "Crease or road, you will regret, if you cross the line".

Many former cricketers including Shane Warne had questioned Ashwin's move, saying it was against the spirit of the game. This was not the first time Kolkata Police used an incident from cricket world to promote their campaign. When Cheteshwar Pujara scored a sublime hundred in Australia in December 2018, Kolkata Police combined his picture with a picture of a person wearing the seat belt while driving his car. "Defence should be like Pujara," they wrote.

News Cricket

Warner discloses what inspires him to do his best for SRH

HIGHLIGHT

The Australian superstar, David Warner is back to what he does the best and that is scoring runs quickly and winning games of cricket for his side. Warner's international ban has also expired, which means he is now available for selection at the highest level too. Right now, he is playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left-hander has made back-to-back fifties as well and is looking in red-hot form.

Warner revealed what inspires him to perform so consistently for the Hyderabad franchise. “One thing that inspires me is the local fans, they are amazing. We try and put on a good show. We didn’t get off to a good start, a serious innings from Sanju and full credit to him. He came out and played really well. He allowed himself time and the wicket got better. Actually I didn’t think it was a 200 wicket. We have played on similar wickets where if you bowl that hard length it is hard to bat,” he said.

Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan by five wickets and have finally opened their account in points table after they lost the first game against Kolkata Knight Riders.

News Cricket

Rashid Khan reveals he has five different variations

HIGHLIGHT

Rashid Khan is one of the most successful T20 players in the world of cricket. He often plays around the world when it comes to franchise-based T20 leagues. The leg-spinner has also been highly successful in the cash-rich Indian Premiere League (IPL). He has taken 40 wickets in 33 games at an average of 21.65 with an economy of 6.66.

The Afghanistan spinner disclosed the secret behind his success in the shortest format of the game. “I have five different leg-spin variations with different actions. I just back myself with my variations and pitch it in the good length area,” said Rashid.

Rashid Khan's batting has also started coming good of late. Yesterday, he batted brilliantly and scored 15 off 8 deliveries to finish off the game for Hyderabad against Rajasthan at Rajiv Gandhi International cricket stadium.

“I am working on my batting. I need to bat well when my team needs me. My coaches — (Tom) Moody, Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) and (V.V.S.) Laxman — have always backed me and given me lot of confidence saying you can hit anywhere, just a case of backing yourself. That’s what I did.

“I think I just try my best to be positive in each game and I am working hard and believing in my own skills, so that’s what is working for me,” said the leggie.